Join our small community in the Pyrenees and learn new skills, France

Details

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  Description

  Hi, I'm Simon, and I have accidentally created a community in the mountains.
  9 years ago I moved from the UK to France to escape Brexit, and now I own an aparthotel in a quiet Pyrenean village. It has been converted into separate apartments that we are currently selling.
  This is NOT a commercial enterprise; it is my home, and that's where I need help.
  
  Previously, my brother used Workaway, and it has been nothing but a positive experience, a trend which I have continued.
  However, without trying or indeed realising it had happened, I have accidentally built a community. Something I am now extremely proud of.
  Many volunteers have made this their second home and return on a regular basis. There is always a mix of long-standing workaways and first-timers. We are a diverse community of like-minded people from all walks of life, trying to live in tune with nature and the mountains.
  I like having between 4-6 volunteers at any time. New volunteers get to work alongside existing ones and learn skills that will be invaluable in your future. Every member of the community is responsible for looking after the 3 dogs, 4 cats and 6 chickens. So if you don’t like cats or dogs, this won’t be the place for you.
  
  I provide accommodation (depending on availability, it will be a private room or a dormitory) and 3 meals a day. We are vegetarian/vegan, so there won’t be any meat.
  On work days, we all eat lunch and dinner together. While I enjoy cooking, I always appreciate it when volunteers prepare something, as I love trying new dishes.
  
  Mauléon-Barousse is set in the countryside, so it is a great place to relax by the lake or river, go on hikes in the mountains, visit some local thrift shops, or simply hang out in the common living room. We are a social group, so we like to play games, make music or watch films together in the evening.
  
  You will arrive a volunteer, and if you leave, you will leave a friend.
  
  In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, classic cars, and animals (if you come and stay with me, you'll see just how much I love animals).

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Light gardening

  Creative DIY projects

  Animal Care

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  Light maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet

  House & pet sitting
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  Interests

  

  Camping

  

  Movies & TV

  

  Plant care

  

  Carpentry

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Water sports

  

  Winter sports

  

  Cycling

  

  Farming

  

  LGBTQ

  

  Hiking

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Politics / Social justice

  

  Vegetarian or vegan

  

  Sustainability

  

  Pets

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Gardening

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Animals

  

  Nature

  

  Mountain

  

  Beach
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  You will find yourself in the idyllic village of Mauléon-Barousse, amidst the rolling hills of the Pyrenees. Here you can explore historic churches and towns, get lost in the lush green nature of the French countryside, improve your French, or pick up practical skills around the property.
  
  I love cooking and am always happy to show you a thing or two. Hopefully, we’ll both learn a few things from each other during your stay :)

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  Help

  The main project right now is to bring my late mother’s house back to life. Therefore, I’m looking for volunteers who can help with decorating and general repairs. The goal is to move from the current building into the house. The property has 17,000m² of land, so I’ll need help with gardening as well. Experience in these areas is a plus, but any help is appreciated, and we could teach you a thing or two. General tasks include cleaning, cooking, and animal care.
  
  I am looking for volunteers who want to stay an initial 2 weeks with a view to a longer stay if we all get along (this is important for you to both learn skills but also feel the community vibe).
  I expect 5 hours of help a day, 5 days a week in exchange for accommodation and 3 meals a day. We normally start work at 8.30 in the morning and then work until we eat lunch together. You’ll then have the afternoon free.
  
  If this doesn’t suit you, we can talk about an individual schedule for you. However, occasionally when there are big tasks that require many people, or time-sensitive tasks, I might ask you to work outside your own schedule. On the other hand, if there are times that are very inconvenient for you, please tell me. Communication is the key to good teamwork.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  French: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  I am happy to teach English and would be interested in improving my very poor French
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  Accommodation

  Every volunteer gets a comfy bed in a private room or dormitory depending on availability.
  You will get 3 vegetarian/vegan meals per day that we will share in the common space.
  
  I like to drive over to Spain to do the shopping, so I can give you a ride, and you can have a look around there :) Feel free to request particular foods or snacks, and I’ll be happy to pick them up, provided the requests are reasonable (except meat). There is also a small grocery store just around the corner, where you can find some essentials.
  
  There is a washing machine and wifi available. You will also (weather permitting of course) have access to a pool, patio spaces and all the animals you could wish for.

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  What else ...

  If you enjoy outdoor activities, breathtaking scenery and clean air, then this is the place for you. We often do weekend trips together to go hiking, thrift shopping, or exploring local towns.
  
  We are very close to the Port de Balès, a 19km climb uphill the mountain, used several times as a Tour de France etappe, which ends with stunning views and the starting point to several hiking trails.
  
  There are several walks starting from this town, for example a 20-minute walk to a waterfall, or a 40-minute walk to Château Bramevaque. If you don’t feel like walking, you can swim in the pool on site. There is also a lake with a park in the village, where you can relax in the sun, play tennis or go fishing.
  
  If you have a valid driver's license, we can talk about you using my car (but it might also depend on other factors; just ask). I'm always more than happy to give you a lift to anywhere you want to go. There is also BlaBlaCar, a ride-sharing network, which is very well-known here in France.
  
  If you arrive by train, you should get off at Montréjeau train station. From there, I will pick you up (almost) any time of day.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  There is wifi acess

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  Space for parking camper vans

  We have a big parking space on the property and there is also a campervan-parking areo in the village right next to the river, a 5 minute walk away from the building.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  We have dogs and cats so as long as your furry friend is friendly we can talk.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

  Chickens

  Mindy

  Molly

  Katara

  Dotty

  Stoker

  Toby

  Foxy

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